Germany Releases Hitman in Major Prisoner Swap

Germany has released convicted Russian assassin Vadim Krasikov, serving a life sentence for a 2019 assassination in Berlin, as part of a significant East-West prisoner swap involving the U.S. and Russia. This historic exchange freed 24 individuals, including U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich, Marine veteran Paul Whelan, and five German nationals held in Russia and Belarus. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, emphasizing the necessity of balancing the enforcement of Krasikov's sentence against the liberation of innocents unjustly imprisoned. The deal, coordinated with the U.S. and European partners, has garnered mixed reactions, with some praising the humanitarian outcome and others concerned about the precedent set. U.S. President Joe Biden expressed gratitude to Germany for their significant concessions, highlighting the complex negotiations involved.